Test hole plug

ABSTRACT

A flexible plastic truncated cone shaped body is provided with an annular flange at the upper end which is radially slitted to permit a decrease in overall diameter of the rim when the device is inserted into a test hole to close it off.

[ 1 July4, 1972 United States Patent Ovelson 166/202 .....l66/ l 35 3,593,785 7/1971 Bassani..................................l66/202 [54] TEST HOLE PLUG 3,079,997 3/1963 [72] lnventor: Kenneth Vernon Ovelson, 10678 63rd 3l26827 3/1964 McReynoldsJr" St., Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Jan. 21, 1971 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [22] Filed:

Germany [211 App]. No.:

A flexible plastic truncated cone shaped body is provided with an annular flange at the upper end which is radially slitted to pennit a decrease in overall diameter of the rim when the ole to close it off.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,047,774 7/1936 Greene.................................. 3,039,534 6/1962 device is inserted into a test h 166/192 Koop 166/192 6 Claims, 3Drawing Figures P'A'TENTEDJUL' 4 I972 3, 674, 088

INVENTOR. FIG. 2 [EM TH V6610 Ul EASM/ TEST HOLE PLUG This invention relates to new and useful improvements in test hole plugs.

It is basically designed for use by the geophysical industry for the purpose of plugging holes subsequent to drilling and shooting of same.

Such holes are used in seismographic profile studies and- Government regulations require that a plug be placed in such holes below the surface of the ground to ensure permanent plugging of the holes after use.

Rigid type hole plugs currently in use have a larger diameter than standard openings and consequently the drills have to ream the holes in order to accommodate the plug.

Consequently, because of the time element involved, such holes were in most cases left open during winter seismograph studies and would have to be plugged the following spring which meant that a crew had to go over the same ground twice thus doubling the cost of plugging holes. Some flexible shot hole plugs on the market have been used, but with very little success both in winter and summer because they tend to fall the character herewithin described which is provided with a drainage aperture at the base thereof so that surface water can drain therethrough without building up and eroding the walls of the hole. 7 I

A yet further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is particularly adapted for use with the standard tool used for loading dynamite inasmuch as this tool fits the plug and it can be used to ramp the plug into position readily and easily.

A yet further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is simple in construction, economical in manufacture, and otherwise well suited to the purpose for which it is designed.

With the considerations and inventive objects herein set forth in view, and such other or further purposes, advantages or novel features as may become apparent from consideration of this disclosure and specification, the present invention consists of the inventive concept which is comprised, embodied, embraced, or included in the method, process, construction, composition, arrangement or combination of parts, or new use of any of the foregoing, herein exemplified in one or more specific embodiments of such concept, reference being had to the accompanying Figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the device.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation partially sectioned, FIGS. 1 and 2 being reversed from the usual position of use.

FIG. 3 is a section of a hole in reduced scale with one of the plugs in position.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

Proceeding therefore to describe the invention in detail, reference character 10 illustrates a truncated conical body portion which is hollow and is provided with the narrow end 1] closed off with the exception of a centrally located drain aperture 12 formed therethrough.

Extending radially from the wider end 13 of the body portion 10 is an annular flange 14, said flange extending at substantially right angles to the longitudinal axis 15 of the truncated body portion 10 as clearly shown in FIG. 1.

The body portion and flange together with the inner end are ri 'd enough to retain its shape when set in place.

eans are.provrded to ad ust the diameter of the flange limits when it is placed within a hole and this means takes the form of a plurality of radially extending slits 16 extending from the outer edge 17 of the flanged rim towards the inner edge 18, but terminating just short therefrom as clearly shown in FIG. 1.

In operation, the plugs are reversed from that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and are inserted within the test hole 19 with the narrower end 11 downwardly and the flange 14 at the upper end of the test hole. A standard tool 20 used for loading dynamite, consists of a pawl 21 and a brass flange 22 which is cylindrical in shape, attached towards the lower end thereof. The lower end 23 is a tapered spike as illustrated in FIG. 3 and this spike engages through the drain aperture 12 so that the brass flange 22 is in frictional engagement with the inside walls of the truncated body poru'on 10 part way along the length thereof. This means that the plug may be tamped into position and the tapered body portion 10 together with the centrally located aperture 12 maintains the plug in alignment and prevents it from tilting.

Desirably, the diameter of the flange 14 is slightly larger than the diameter of the hole 19 so that as it is forced into position, the portions 24 of the flange defined by slits 16, turn upwardly as illustrated in FIG. 2 thus reducing the overall dimensions slightly and allowing the plug to be tamped into position with a screw action which ensures permanency in the location of the plug within the hole 19, it being understood that the resiliency of the material permits this condition to occur.

' Once in position, ground water can drain through the hole 12 thus preventing erosion from occurring between the plug and the upper surface or ground level 25.

Various modifications can be made within the scope of the inventive concept which is herein disclosed and/or claimed.

-What I claim as my invention is:

l. A test hole plug comprising a flexible plastic hollowed truncated cone shaped body portion, an annular flanged rim extending from the wider end of said body portion substantially at right angles thereto, the narrow end of said body portion being closed and means on said flanged rim for limited diametrical size adjustment and water draining means in said narrow end of said body portion.

2. The plug according to claim 1 in which said last mentioned means comprises at least one aperture formed through said closed end.

3. The plug according to claim 1 in which said means on said flanged rim includes a plurality of slits formed in said rim from the outer edge thereof and extending towards the inner edge thereof.

4. The plug according to claim 2 in which said means on said flanged rim includes a plurality of slits formed in said rim from the outer edge thereof and extending towards the inner edge thereof.

5. The plug according to claim 3 in which said slits are radially extending.

6. The plug according to claim 4 in which said slits are radially extending. 

1. A test hole plug comprising a flexible plastic hollowed truncated cone shaped body portion, an annular flanged rim extending from the wider end of said body portion substantially at right angles thereto, the narrow end of said body portion being closed and means on said flanged rim for limited diametrical size adjustment and water draining means in said narrow end of said body portion.
 2. The plug according to claim 1 in which said last mentioned means comprises at least one aperture formed through said closed end.
 3. The plug according to claim 1 in which said means on said flanged rim includes a plurality of slits formed in said rim from the outer edge thereof and extending towards the inner edge thereof.
 4. The plug according to claim 2 in which said means on said flanged rim includes a plurality of slits formed in said rim from the outer edge thereof and extending towards the inner edge thereof.
 5. The plug according to claim 3 in which said slits are radially extending.
 6. The plug according to claim 4 in which said slits are radially extending. 